Clark v State of New South Wales [2006] NSWSC 673

Reported Decision : 66 NSWLR 640

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Clark v State of New South Wales [2006] NSWSC 673

HEARING DATE(S) : 23 August 2005, 24 August 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 30 June 2006

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

DECISION : 1. Further Amended Statement of Claim dismissed; 2. Plaintiff is to pay the Defendant's costs of this application.

CATCHWORDS : ABUSE OF PROCESS - claim for damages for malicious prosecution, false arrest, false imprisonment and abuse of process - plaintiff alleges that he possesses tape recording of police officer soliciting a bribe from him - tape said to be important potential evidence in proceedings - directions made by judge for technical analysis of tape - proceedings adjourned for that purpose - plaintiff then destroys the original tape - application by defendant that proceedings be stayed or dismissed as an abuse of process - elements of abuse of process - principles applicable where application is made for stay or dismissal of proceedings on grounds of destruction of potential evidence after proceedings commenced - order made dismissing proceedings

Civil Procedure Act 2005 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules Supreme Court Rules Evidence Act 1995 LEGISLATION CITED : Crown Proceedings Act 1998 Crimes Act 1900 Unauthorised Documents Act 1922 Listening Devices Act 1984 Law Reform (Vicarious Liability) Act 1983

R v Clark [2002] NSWCCA 16 Batistatos (by his Tutor William George Rosebottom) v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2006] HCA 27 Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378 Hunter v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police (1982) AC 529 Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509 Jago v District Court (NSW) (1989) 168 CLR 23 Birkett v James (1978) AC 297 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598 Holt v Wynter (2000) 49 NSWLR 128 CASES CITED : Commonwealth of Australia v Smith [2005] NSWCA 478 Director of Public Prosecutions v Aydogan and Gosper [2006] NSWSC 558 The Queen v Rogerson (1991-1992) 174 CLR 268 Mills v Central Sydney Area Health Service [2002] NSWSC 728 British American Tobacco Australia Services Limited v Cowell (2002) 7 VR 524 Burns v National Bank of New Zealand [2004] 3 NZLR 289 Allen v Tobias (1957-1958) 98 CLR 367 Katsilis v Broken Hill Pty Co Limited (1977) 18 ALR 181 Bridges v Pelly [2001] NSWCA 31 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [2001] NSWSC 510 Arrow Nominees Inc v Blackledge [2000] EWCA Civ 200 Logicrose Limited v Southend United Football Company Limited (Chancery Division, 5 February 1988) Fuji Xerox Australia Pty Limited v Lee [2003] QSC 303